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Weekly litigation report — Another Supreme Court Win!

December 01, 2018 | By JAMES BURLING

Another PLF win in the Supreme Court This week, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously (8–0 with Justice Kavanaugh not participating) in favor of PLF client Edward Poitevent and his family in Weyerhaeuser v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In a factual sense, the decision concerns whether the endangered dusky gopher frog’s “critical ha ...

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Weekly litigation update — October 6, 2018

October 06, 2018 | By JAMES BURLING

A shy frog becomes the center of attention at the Supreme Court This week the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral argument in our Endangered Species Act case known as Weyerhaeuser Company v. United States Fish & Wildlife Service. The Court accepted the case to consider two questions. First, whether the federal government … ...

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Weekly litigation update — September 29, 2018

September 29, 2018 | By JAMES BURLING

PLF attorney gives congressional testimony on ESA reform This week, PLF attorney Jonathan Wood testified before the House Natural Resource Committee, urging Congress to improve the Endangered Species Act to reduce unnecessary conflict and provide better incentives to restore habitat and recover species. Based on Jonathan’s testimony, Congress ...

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Seattle can’t ban criminal background checks

September 28, 2018 | By ETHAN BLEVINS

Does a landlord have a constitutional right to ask about someone’s criminal background before renting to them? Today, PLF filed a brief in Yim v. City of Seattle unveiling the (obvious) answer: Yes! Seattle’s “Fair Chance Housing Ordinance” forbids inquiries into a rental applicant’s criminal history. And just in ca ...

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Ninth Circuit remains hostile to free association for conservative groups

September 11, 2018 | By JEREMY TALCOTT

This morning the Ninth Circuit released this opinion in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra, a case about whether California can demand confidential donor forms from nonprofit organizations operating within the state. Twice the district court has found that the law violates  donors’ First Amendment rights of free speech and associ ...

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Weekly litigation report — August 18, 2018

August 18, 2018 | By JAMES BURLING

Opening day for SCOTUS nears as PLF readies to throw first pitch This week Pacific Legal Foundation filed its Reply Brief in Weyerhaeuser v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a case that arises from the Fifth Circuit and involves our client Edward Poitevent’s property in the deep woods of Louisiana. The Supreme Court of the … ...

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Seattle can’t ban websites it dislikes

August 17, 2018 | By ETHAN BLEVINS

Today, we filed a motion for summary judgment in Rentberry v. City of Seattle, asking a federal court to throw out Seattle’s ban on rental bidding websites. We argue that Seattle’s regulation by reflex is contrary to the core tenets of a free society. … ...

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Weekly litigation report — July 14, 2018

July 14, 2018 | By JAMES BURLING

PLF gets into a Santa suit to fight for free speech This week, PLF filed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Ecology for kicking Santa out of their public lobby because they didn’t like him spreading Christmas cheer. We’re representing Freedom Foundation, a right-to-work think tank that sends canvassers out to state agencies ...

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Supreme Court tells Ninth Circuit to protect First Amendment rights

June 28, 2018 | By DEBORAH LA FETRA

Last year, the Ninth Circuit rejected cell phone retailers’ First Amendment claim challenging the City of Berkeley’s ordinance requiring the retailers to display posters and other large documents warning against unsafe cell phone usage and including the city’s advice about “how to use your phone safely.” The retailers& ...